Refrigerator and/or Freezer Unit

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having an outer unit wall and/or having a door or flap closing the unit interior, wherein a heating device is provided at or in the region of the door or flap and/or at or in the region of the outer unit wall.

The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having an outer unit wall and/or having a door or flap closing the unit interior.

At high humidity, condensation occurs at the surface, in particular of built-in units, specifically at their doors, and runs downwardly between the door of the refrigerator unit and the furniture door. This is undesirable because it results in damage to the kitchen furniture and to the floor and accordingly, where necessary, to complaints.

The insulation of the door of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in built-in units is usually made correspondingly thick to avoid condensation formation. So that, for example, no condensation is formed even at 90% humidity, the door insulation must, however, be made so thick that a comparatively large loss of volume in the unit would result. A further possibility of improving the insulation is the use of vacuum panels. However, these have the disadvantage that they are comparatively expensive and lose their good insulating properties in the event of the slightest leakages.

It is therefore the underlying object of the present invention to further develop a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit of the initially named kind such that the occurrence of condensation is reliably prevented or the probability for the occurrence of condensation is reliably reduced.

This object is achieved by a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having the features of claim 1. Provision is accordingly made that a heating device is provided at or in the region of the door or flap and/or at or in the region of the outer unit wall. The occurrence of condensation can be effectively prevented using such an “anti-condensation heating”.

It is also conceivable that the door or flap has an outer wall and that the heating device is arranged at its inner side and/or at its outer side.

The heating device can be provided in series production or also as a retrofit kit.

If it is provided in series production, provision is made, for example, but not necessarily, that it is applied to the inner surface of the outer door wall before the foaming of the door and the foaming is then carried out. Alternatively or additionally, however, another arrangement of the heating device is also conceivable in series production, for example in the region of the unit housing.

Instead of making all units with such a heating device as standard, which is comparatively cost-intensive, particularly since a heating device is not required in many cases due to the environmental conditions, provision can be made to provide a kit which consists of the named heating device or at least comprises it. It is, for example, conceivable to apply the kit or the heating device subsequently to the unit door or unit flap or between the unit door and the furniture door.

It is, for example, conceivable to make the heating unit as a foil heating which is adhered at the outside to the unit door or unit flap.

As stated above, the type of heating is arbitrary. The same applies to its type of fastening.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is a foil heating with a small thickness. If a unit door and a furniture door are provided, the advantage in particular results in this respect that a minimal spacing can be realized between both doors.

If the heating device is on the inner side of the door or flap, provision can be made that the heating device is foamed in or is adjacent to the foaming.

It is, for example, conceivable to apply the heating device to the inner surface of the outer door wall before the foaming of the door, and indeed preferably such that a heat distribution which is as uniform as possible is ensured at the door surface.

The use of the heating device is not restricted to the door or flap of the unit. It is conceivable that the condensation formation should also be prevented at the housing of the unit. Provision can thus be made that the heating unit is arranged on the inner side and/or on the outer side of the outer unit wall. It can be sensible in this case also to provide one heating device or a plurality of heating devices there.

The heating power of the heating device used in accordance with the invention can be comparatively small since it only has the object of ensuring that the thaw point is not fallen below where possible under the desired installation conditions.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that the heating device is an electric heater. The use of a foil heating is preferably provided which requires a small installation space.

Ideally, a self-adhesive heating device or a self-adhesive foil heating is used; however, any other form of a heating or electric heating can also be used.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that the unit is connected to a furniture door or furniture flap and that the heating device is arranged in the region between the furniture door or furniture flap and the unit door or unit flap. In this respect, the heating device can be arranged at the unit door or unit flap or also at the furniture door or furniture flap. It is likewise conceivable to arrange the heating device in the intermediate space between both doors or flaps. It is decisive that the heating device is made such that the named condensation formation is completely or largely prevented in the region in question.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that the heating device has at least one cable, in particular a connection and/or sensor cable, and that the cable is guided over the hinge or hinges by means of which the door or flap of the unit is pivotable. Reference is made in this connection to the utility model application of the applicant having the file reference 20 2007 008 106.5 whose disclosure content is in this respect made the subject of the present invention. It is thus conceivable that the cable or cables lead over the hinge in a suitable manner, whereby the cable or cables is/are protected against jamming and damage even with an extremely frequent actuation of the door or flap.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that connection means, in particular a socket for connecting the cable or cables, are arranged at the carcass of the device. This is in particular advantageous in the case of a retrofit kit since it is conceivable in this case that the cable ends are made with a plug which is plugged into a suitable socket at the unit to supply the heating device with power, to transmit measured values of the sensor to the unit, etc.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that the unit has a control or regulation device for the operation of the heating device or a mount for such a control or regulation device. It is advantageous if an installation possibility for the control or regulation member is already taken into account at the unit side.

The control or regulation device can be made such that the heating device switches on as soon as the unit is switched on. In this case, the heating device runs when the unit is switched on. In this respect, the heating power must naturally be matched to the door or flap area to ensure, on the one hand, that the condensation formation does not occur or only occurs to a minor degree and to avoid, on the other hand, an unpermittedly high heating of the unit.

Provision can furthermore be made that a temperature sensor is provided for determining an actual temperature value and that the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of a comparison of the actual temperature value with a desired temperature value or with a desired temperature value range such that the actual temperature value coincides with the desired temperature value or lies in the desired temperature value range. It is, for example, conceivable that the temperature sensor is arranged at the outside of the door or flap or, for example, measures the temperature in the region between a furniture door or furniture flap and the unit door or unit flap.

The temperature sensor can naturally also be arranged at another position. It is important that conclusions can be drawn on the probability for the occurrence of condensation by means of the measured actual temperature value so that the heating device can be controlled correspondingly.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that a temperature sensor is provided at or in the region of the unit for the determination of an actual temperature value and a temperature sensor is provided for the measurement of the environmental temperature and that the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of a comparison of both actual temperature values. A particularly exact and energy-saving heating is possible by the comparison of the environmental temperature with the surface temperature of the door or flap, for example. If it is found that both actual temperature values are identical or similar, the occurrence of condensation is unlikely so that the heating device can be switched off or operated at relatively low power.

It is particularly advantageous when the unit is made with a sensor for the determination of the air humidity and when the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of the measured air humidity. This solution also allows an energy-optimized use of the heating device. Provision can, for example, be made that the heating device is operated with a power which is the lower, the lower the air humidity is since then the likelihood for the occurrence of condensation falls.

It is likewise naturally conceivable that the control or regulation unit is connected both to one or more air humidity sensors and to one or more temperature sensors and operates the heating device on the basis of combined actual values of air humidity and temperature.

Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention that the heating device has one or more heating circuits. If a plurality of heating circuits are present, i.e. regions operable at different heating powers, there is the possibility to set the heating power differently for different regions of the unit. It is, for example, conceivable to provide a larger heating power in the region with a greater likelihood for the occurrence of condensation, for example, than in other regions.

Provision is made in an embodiment of the invention that the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is a built-in unit. However, the invention is not restricted to these units.

The present invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to an embodiment.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the heating device is optionally made as a kit with its infeeding and outfeeding cables which is mounted retroactively on an existing unit. It can also be made of a self-adhesive foil heating which is adhered to the outside of the unit door. If the unit is a built-in unit, a minimal spacing between the unit door and the furniture door can be realized due to the lower thickness of the foil heating.

A cable guidance is furthermore contained in the kit which is retroactively fastened to the unit or the hinge with a suitable cable guidance and which ensures a positioning of the inleading and outleading cables.

A corresponding plug possibility is provided at the unit side for the connection of the electric heating. The installation possibility of the control or regulation member is likewise provided at the unit side. In these cases, a retrofitting of existing units can thus take place in a simple manner.

Provision is made in a second embodiment of the invention that a refrigerator unit is fitted with an electric heating as standard, said electric heating being a self-adhesive foil heating which is applied to the inner surface of the outer door before the foaming of the door. The door is subsequently foamed and provided with the inner door.

The feed line of the electric heating is guided to the outside from the insulating foam via a socket or the like and is conducted via a corresponding cable guidance via the hinge to the cabinet housing.

It is conceivable that the electric heating is not connected to a control electronic system, but rather only to a power supply which operates the electric heating permanently or in dependence on specific operating states such as in dependence on whether the unit is switched on.

It is furthermore conceivable to provide a regulation device in the unit by means of which the heating power or the temperature is regulated at the positions of the unit at which condensation formation is to be expected with a very high likelihood. Provision can be made in this respect that the temperature of the environment and/or of the unit surface, preferably of the door surface, is measured and the electric heating is switched on or off or its power is adapted corresponding to this temperature via an electrical or mechanical thermostat. It can, for example, be achieved in this way that the temperature is kept constant in the named region or is always in a desired value range.

Provision can also be made to make a particularly exact and energy-saving heating possible by a comparison of the environmental temperature with the surface temperature.

Finally, the use of a humidity sensor is also alternatively or additionally conceivable, with the heating device being able to be switched on or off or its power being able to be regulated on the basis of the measured humidity value.

The above-listed examples for the control and regulation of the heating device can be realized independently of whether it is a case of a series produced solution with a heating device inserted in advance or of a retrofit kit with a heating device to be applied retroactively. 

1. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having an outer unit wall and/or having a door or flap closing the inner unit space, wherein a heating device is provided at or in the region of the door or flap and/or at or in the region of the outer unit wall.
 2. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the door or flap has an outer door wall or an outer flap wall; and the heating device is arranged at its inner side or at its outer side.
 3. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device is arranged on the inner side and/or on the outer side of the outer unit wall.
 4. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device is made in the form of a retrofit kit or as a component of a retrofit kit.
 5. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device is an electric heating.
 6. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein the heating device is a foil heating.
 7. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device is a self-adhesive heating device.
 8. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the unit is connected to a furniture door or furniture flap; and the heating device is arranged in the region between the furniture door or furniture flap and the door or flap of the unit.
 9. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein the heating device is arranged at the furniture door or furniture flap and/or at the door or flap of the unit.
 10. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device is foamed in or is adjacent to a foaming.
 11. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device has at least one cable, in particular a connection and/or sensor cable; and the cable is guided via the hinge by which the door or flap of the unit is pivotable.
 12. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 11, wherein connection means, in particular a socket, is provided at the carcass of the unit for the connection of the cable or cables.
 13. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the unit has a control or regulation unit for the operation of the heating device or a mount for such a control or regulation unit.
 14. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 13, wherein the control or regulation device is made such that it switches the heating device on as soon as the unit is switched on.
 15. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 13, wherein a temperature sensor is provided for the determination of an actual temperature value; and the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of a comparison of the actual temperature value with a desired temperature value or with a desired temperature value range such that the actual temperature value coincides with the desired temperature value or lies in the desired temperature value range.
 16. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 13, wherein a temperature sensor is provided for the determination of an actual temperature value at or in the region of the unit and a temperature sensor is provided for measurement the environmental temperature; and the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of a comparison of both actual temperature values.
 17. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 13, wherein the unit is made with a sensor for the determination of the air humidity; and the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of the measured humidity.
 18. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device has one or more heating circuits.
 19. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is a built-in unit.
 20. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 14, wherein a temperature sensor is provided for the determination of an actual temperature value; and the control or regulation device is made such that it operates the heating device on the basis of a comparison of the actual temperature value with a desired temperature value or with a desired temperature value range such that the actual temperature value coincides with the desired temperature value or lies in the desired temperature value range. 